Packaging Solutions
In January 2020, Peterborough based Manor Packaging, part of Fencor Packaging Group, did not have a single Bobst solution on-site. Today, the company has three.
Its first Bobst machine – an FFG 8.20 Discovery, next generation in line flexo folder-gluer – was installed in February 2020. Bobst’s commitment to customer service and after sales support during the Discovery acquisition meant Manor Packaging’s decision about its next investment was a simple one; the Visioncut 1.6 was quickly identified as the perfect solution for its rapidly evolving needs.
‘We were putting most of our online retail jobs through our existing flatbed die cutter but in spite of regular maintenance, we were very exposed to the risk of a breakdown and we needed additional capacity in order to meet the turnaround times demanded by our customers,’ said David Orr, managing director of Fencor Packaging Group. ‘We spoke to the Bobst team and it recommended the Visioncut 1.6. Such was the customer experience when we installed the FFG 8.20 Discovery, that we really didn’t look anywhere else.’
The investment quickly paid off for Manor Packaging, with customer demand steadily increasing, particularly in the e-commerce sector. The pattern of its previous investment repeated, the need for a further machinery solution quickly became evident. ‘Of course, improving one area of the production often leads to challenges arising elsewhere or highlights where further improvements can be made; that’s exactly what happened for us,’ admitted David. ‘We quickly realised that we needed to back up our existing multi-point folder-gluer, which would also help us to offer greater variety and capabilities to our customers.’
Once again, Bobst was able to offer an ideal solution in the Expertfold 165.
The machine delivered precisely what Manor Packaging needed, offering the ideal combination of speed and precision for packaging applications. Its impressive list of benefits includes high speed and high quality converting, thanks to a range of specific devices which ensure complete control of the folding and gluing process. Simple setting and retrieval of job data greatly reduce make ready times and it is modular design enables Manor Packaging to add optional functionality later, should the need arise.
‘The fact that Bobst has UK based engineers was a crucial factor in our decision making process,’ David explained. ‘We are very happy to pay a small premium for the reassurance of having engineers close at hand, who know the machines inside out, especially when we are in the business of providing products to customers on very short lead times.’
These continue to be exciting times for Manor Packaging. Having significantly invested in its business over the last few years, it is already beginning to reap the rewards in the form of improved capacity, flexibility, and resilience.
